Nickel hydroxide electrode for use in an alkaline secondary battery

Abstract

A nickel hydroxide electrode useful in an alkaline secondary battery containing at least one of a copper-based additive or a manganese-based additive in either a nickel hydrogen active material as applied to a porous metal substrate, in a porous metal substrate itself, or both. The copper-based additive is at least member of the group consisting of copper, cuprous oxide and cupric oxide. The manganese-based additive is at least member of the group consisting of metal manganese, MnO, Mn.sub.2 O.sub.3, Mn.sub.3 O.sub.4, MnO.sub.2, MnO.sub.3, Mn.sub.2 O.sub.7, Mn(OH).sub.2, MnCO.sub.3, K.sub.2 MnO.sub.2, and KMnO.sub.4. When the additive is used in a positive electrode for an alkaline secondary battery, the rate of absorption of hydrogen gas generated in the battery is accelerated resulting in a reduction of the internal pressure of the battery. Further, the excess capacity of the negative electrode in relation to the capacity of the positive electrode can be reduced resulting in an increase in the battery capacity per unit volume.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.